22 Kyahk(The Twenty-Second Day of the Blessed Month of Kiahk)

1. This day marks the commemoration of the honorable
archangel Gabriel, the announcer, the consecration of his church in Caesaria and
the appearance of many miracles in it.

He was the angel who was sent to the Virgin Mary to
announce her with the glorious birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to her
and said, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) He
also announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias. (Luke 1: 11-22) As
much as this announcement has of great joy and gladness, we should also rejoice
in his feast and pray intently with supplications, asking for his intercession
before God, to preserve us from being ensnared by the devil and to grant us
salvation from our sins.

The intercession of this honored angel be with us. Amen.

2. On this day also of the year 611 A.D., St. Anastasius,
36th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was one of the great noblemen of
Alexandria. Before he became a Pope, he was an overseer of the patriarchal
court, then he became a priest for the church of Alexandria. Shortly afterwards,
he was chosen to be Pope.

He devoted much of his attention to the churches and
he ordained bishops and priests to fill the vacant posts. He built several
churches and regained from the "Melkites" (those who were appointed by the Roman
Emperor) those that they took over by force. Because he was loved by them for
his knowledge, virtues and righteousness, he brought many of them back to the
Orthodox faith.

When the Emperor of Constantinople died, some wicked
people spoke evil of the Pope to his successor, that when the Pope was ordained
he anathematized (excommunicated) the Emperor and his belief. The Emperor was
enraged and sent to the Governor of Alexandria, commanding him to take the
church of "St. Cosmas and St. Damian" and all its properties by force and to
give it to the Roman Patriarch "Ologius". St. Anastasius was exceedingly sad,
but the Lord comforted him in another matter.

Peter, the heretic, Bishop of Antioch, died. A well
informed saintly monk called Athanasius of the Orthodox Faith was ordained in
his place. As soon as Athanasius became Patriarch, he renewed the union between
the Church of Antioch and the Church of Alexandria. He wrote an epistle, stating
in it his Orthodox faith, and sent it to St. Anastasius, who rejoiced and
gathered the bishops and the priests and read it to them. He wrote back to Abba
Athanasius indicating his desire to see him.

Abba Athanasius went to Alexandria with his bishops
and priests. When Abba Anastasius learned of his arrival, as he was in "Scetis",
he departed to Alexandria. He went directly to the sea along with the bishops
and priests to receive Abba Athanasius and welcome him to Alexandria with great
respect and honor. They held a council in one of the monasteries that was at the
sea coast, which lasted one month, to discuss the doctrines of the church. Then,
the Antiochian Patriarch went back to his See in peace.

St. Anastasius continued to teach his flock in person
and through his books. Because of his great knowledge, he was able to write a
book every year. He remained on his throne for 12 years, 6 months and 10 days.
During this period, he wrote twelve books and gave them the Coptic alphabet as
titles. His first book was Alpha (&), his second was Beta (B) and so on, then he
departed in peace.